Percussion cap, fuse, and the like for use in connection with grenades, explosive mines, and other like apparatus.



W MILLS PERCUSSION CAP, FUSE, AND THE LIKE, FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH GRENADES, EXPLOSIVE MINES, AND 0 R LIKE APPARATUS.

CATION EIJ NOV. 23 |915 lPatn'fed May 9, 1916.

APPLI ED STATES OFFICE.

PERCUSSION CAP, FUSE, AND THE LIKE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH GRENADES,

- EXPLOSIVE' MINES, AND OTHER LIKE APPARATUS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application led November 23, 1915. Serial No. 63,084.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MILLS, a subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, residing at Bridge street west, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, engineer, have invented certain new and useful improvements in or relating to percussion caps, fuses, and the like for use in connection'with grenades, explosive mines, and other like apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises certain improvements in or relating to percussion caps, fuses, and the like, for use in connection with grenades, explosivel mines, and other like apparatus. v

In connection with a fuse adapted tobe fired or ignited by a percussion cap, and in which the extremity of the fuse is introduced into a housing or aperture in juxtaposition with the cap, the latter upon being fired is liable to create a pressure between the cap and the fuse and to blow, or tend to blow, the fuse, or the end thereof, out of the aperture or housing, or to create a pressure which is liable to burst the fuse at a position outside of the aperture or housing, this involving the possibility that the fuse, or the remaining part thereof, does not burn or continue to burn. Such a pressure is also liable in cases in which the fuse does burn, to shortenthe period of burning of the fuse, as for instance by blowing through the interior of the latter. Thus the presence of this pressure is liable to result on the one hand in the detonator not being fired, and on the other hand in the detonator being fired too soon, in the first case with the result that the grenade does not explode, and in the second case with the result that considerable danger is involved in 'using the grenade.

vThe present invention comprises a particularly efficient and satisfactory mode of and means for relieving the pressure in the vicinity of the cap, this having the advantage that the fuse is effectively relieved from this pressure bodily and internally,

and the products of" combustion are enabled to escape. i

The present invention further provides a construction or arrangement providing for the more effective and certain'ignition of the time fuse by the percussion cap.

against the explosive part of the cap so that a space may be left between the explosive part of the cap and the fuse. According to the present invention, I make provision whereby the gases may escape by way of an aperture or passage through the explosive part of the percussion cap, that. is to say in the' case of a cap which is in the nature of a cylmder closed at one end by the explosive part and suitably mounted, the transverse part closing the cylinder, and which involves the explosive portion, is,instead of being in the 'nature of a transverse closure portion, in the nature of an internal annular flange, so that when this flange isstruck the explosive gases are enabled to escape through the orifice or aperture which it encircles, and satisfactory ring of the fuse is thereby obtained.

The transverse part of the cap, and which may project externally to form a stop or sh/oulder by virtue of which the cap may be satisfactorily installed in a carrier part or anvil, may be of conical form, the outer face of the cap against which the striker operates being conical or concaove and the explosive being contained within an annular Space, the inner annular open mouth of which is thereby facing in an inclined direction the end of the fuse, so that while free escape of the gases is permitted, the flame of explosion is thrown toward the end of the fuse by reason of the disposal of the annular space in -which the explosive is vcontained.

The means for insuring the provision of a space `between lthe explosive part of the cap and the time fuse introduced into the 'cylindrical part of the cap or into a conduit or space in the vicinity ofthe explosive part of the cap, may be in the nature of a projection or projections adapted to project into the interior of the cylinder or space ternally disposed pivoted lever which ensame position by the hand grasping -the'g the cap is restrained from "displacement in vided ,aroun the circuI-nferenceof the space -Within one end of this tubular striker -a 'v pended explanatory sheetof drawingsrupon. Whichzl' Figure Al is a sectionalA .elevati-Q11' Of 2L" renade showing the present inventionv ap? plied thereto. Fig. V2 is" an enlarged sectional View illustrating one form of per-- cussion cap according to the present invention, the cap being disposed with-iny an anvil such'as is shown in the grenade illustrated by Fig. l. 4 Fig. 8 illustrates a'modied form o f cap according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a part front elevation and Fig. 5 is a part sectional side elevation of one form of striker according to the present invenr, tion. Fig. 6 is a sectional front elevation off a modified formof striker according tothe present invention; Fig. 7 is a sectionalfront elevation of a still further modifiedform of striker according -to thel present invention. Vf.

In the drawings, and referring. firstlyto Fig. l, a is a tubular housing in which a longitudinally moving striker b operates.-

advantageously arranged to function as a .funnel-or as parts of a funnelby whicl; the

directed to the central part of the fuse. ,The projection or 'projections may' be formed by inwardly 'denting the sheet metal tooth .having Aa face at'right angles to the wall, ofthe cylinder', andagainst which face theend ofthe fuse is adapted to abut, vand having an inclined face extendingfrom the projecting 'extremity lof this` first-mentioned indertc forn theinclinedxguiding portion above defined. 1 .The dentsma formed with two vlongitudinal cuts sol that "of a bridge.` 0r, 'as 'shown linFig. l, the in-l 'wa'rdly projecting part may be inthe nature ofanincli'ned tongue-disconnected from the separable anvil or cap plug c is'fadapted to be suitably secured. This-anvilor cap plugis perforated axially and accommodatesthe cylindrical' part ofV the v'cap. Z is i an exf and which tongue" is cutfrom. the wall and disposed in the position above definedffor directing'- the flame of explosion to the the percussion cap, that -isto sayin a position' axially alined with the combustible; contained injthe part' of the fuse. which is ingages with the head of the strike'rand'normally retains it in its retractedcondition, said lever d being Anormally retained in` the position shown by a retaining 'pin incorporated at e. When'it isl desired to'throw the grenade the pin at' the osition-'e is rei art of the percusmoved, the lever dbeing st' l'retained in .lts

between ythe explosive outer-'face of thev capmay, as shown in Fig. grenade, and 'in the act of throwing'they grenade the lever` d is "released and the .withqa'slight inwardly depressedcon'e for'- strikeris impelled by its springandcaused to strike the cap. v

The-percussion cap may bef-.essentiallyin thenature of' a c`u memlner4 0r memberinj-jvolving a cylindrlcaljwalL adapted be'- inserted within the axial'perforation in the# anvil `c. In the arrangement 'shown it is-ex`, ternally enlarged jat both. lends to vengage A"the cap in combination withfthe internal with the respective faces of theanvil so that 'in Fig.,3.fv Aswill bel seen bythis figure,v the guidin 'portionsfthereo may be so incoreither direction. -lhecap may-, howevenbe poi-atel as A`toiresultfinthe formation'bfa incorporated by other methods,- and' it -needV not necessarily involve the cy1ind'ricalex the centralorcombustible' par'tlof the fuse. tension. The time fuse f which-is in f the' The Acap is suitably'renlarged 'at lc" to rest nature of Ia length of cord or tubular "cord- 4"upon-the upperj surfacefof-'the anvil, land age internally containing the'v combustible such upperslrface yofy the anvilmay around material is adapted .to b e inserted atits one.'v end into the open extremity of the percus- .ed o sothatthe shape ofthe anvll is adapt'- sion cap, or into the opening in the anvil. edto theconical or other shape ofthe capi* Positive stop means are incorporated for- The.-strilger is.l furnished with .striking spacing the end? of the fuse from the ex-v portions il, l adaptedfifo:engage with lthel plosive part of the cap.v

'A pluralit of projections g may be protedV or cut away, or otherwise left hollow' or cylinder, or a single annular projection h or of such othervform a\s\to provide av free' may provided encircling the said. space, passage for vthe escape of thegases issuing ,uuu-.rma .mgl-x1.,

and this" projection or theseprojections'fare face obliquely `toward the wall of the'cyl# be provided)l without breaking the metal o the cylindrical wall,.ors uch metal of the wall may be cylindrical wall at its projecting'extremity,

central partofthe fuse.- Centrally within mationv 'around .the central orifice. This the central perforation if desired be round vHaine of explosion is concentrated and v wall ofthe cap thedent or dents may be of s'ha'peA correspondingwith thatof ai ratchet the yinwardly projected partis in the 'nature :serted ,into the percussion cap or anvilfth'e y j vent i is provided adaptedto vent vthe space .sion cap andthe extremlty of the fuse. The

2, be svubstantiallyvflat and maybeprovided may beinore pronounced,v and-the .entire face, o ra substantial part 'of the. face of the I 1 ,':cap -may bein-the nature of a cone as shown Y .110

conin'g v'off thel external perforated facel of4 .projection or. projections, or `v the inclined conical recess adapted to direct the flame to part. ofthe cap in which the explosive is contained, vand the strlkeris centrally slot- -ditionally,

from the central aperture or perforation in the explosive part of the cap. In one arrangement the two projections Z, l adapted to strike the cap at diametrically oppositey points, are of such length that when they have struck and fired the cap they form distance members, by virtue of which a sufficient space is left between the face of the cap and the body of the striker, so that the pressure gases, and other matters egressing by way of the vent can freely escape into the lstriker chamber. Alternatively or adsuch striker is at a diameter at :right angles to the diameter in which the striking portions occur, furnished with a broad saw-cut m for a part of its length from its striking end; this saw-cut may eX- tend entirely across the striker at its lower part, and may extend upwardly therefrom in the form of grooves of depth gradually decreasing until they run into the surface of the reduced body of the striker, as shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the striker may be centrally drilled entirely or throughout a part of its length, and in the latter case the striker is also drilled transverselyy to form in the striker a T conduit, the stem of the T being open at the face of the striker adjacent to the cap, as shown in Fig. 6. In a further alternative, we may drill the striker or the face thereof1 in the vicinity of the cap with an oblique perforation or conduit extending from this face and opening into the side of the striker, as shown in Fig. 7. The escaping gases can thus enter the space around the body of the striker, from which space they may readily escape to the atmosphere. The arrangement is such that when the grenade is made, and before it is to be used, the space in which the striker is contained may be sealed, as for instance by Wax, this sealing being automatically broken upon the operation of the striker.

What I claim as my invention, and' desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In ignition apparatus in combination, a percussion cap having an opening at one l time fuse `from end adapted to receive the end of a time fuse, said cap having a transverse portion with avent therein opposite said opening, a striker adapted to operate upon said transverse portion, said striker being of such character that when it contacts with the cap it does not close said vent provided therein, and a stop for maintaining the end of the fuse in such position that it is spaced from the said transverse portion of the cap.

2. A percussion cap having an opening at one end adapted to receive the `end of a time fuse, said cap having a transverse portion opposite said opening, said transverse portion having an aperture therein folr venting the cap, said transverse portionbeing designed to directthe flame of explosion toward said opening.

'3. A percussion cap comprising a transverse portion having a central vent, said transverse portion incorporating the explosive part of the cap and being dished inwardly whereby the flame of explosion is directed inwardly.

4. In ignition apparatus in combination, a percussion cap, a time fuse adapted to be ignited thereby, and means for spacing the the explosive part of the cap, said spacing means being of a form adapted to direct the liame of explosion of the cap toward the central or combustible part of the time fuse.

5. A percussion cap comprising a body having an opening at one end for receiving the end of a time fuse and having a transverse portion opposite said opening, said transversev portion having a vent opening therein and having an internal annular fiange surrounding said vent opening for directing the fiame toward said first mentioned opening.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set ARTHUR HENRY BROWN, HOLLIS BROWN. 

